gmc80111 wrote:Try getting rid of over zealous and extremely liberal moderators. Also try not to control the news stories that can be commented on. The Obama has told several out right lies in the last week or two, and no mention or chance to voice an opinion.

A great man once said:

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

...and when I say "great man" I really mean "wise muppet."

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”― Isaac Asimov

gmc80111 wrote:Try getting rid of over zealous and extremely liberal moderators. Also try not to control the news stories that can be commented on. The Obama has told several out right lies in the last week or two, and no mention or chance to voice an opinion.

A great man once said:

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

...and when I say "great man" I really mean "wise muppet."

Talking about Yoda, you are...

The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind. - Humphrey Bogart

Seems these boards are getting vicious again. I have more important things to do than read a bunch of hate-filled rants from those that do not understand the issues they're opining about. Seems like a lengthy break is in order.

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”― Isaac Asimov

Professor Silly wrote:Seems these boards are getting vicious again. I have more important things to do than read a bunch of hate-filled rants from those that do not understand the issues they're opining about. Seems like a lengthy break is in order.

Agreed.It is all talking, no listening, prove the other poster wrong, not the issue, and in the most insulting way possible instead of just voicing an opinion and leaving it at that! The constant back and forth predictable stalemates are just that. Stale.I have already decreased my participation. I don't expect change in anyone but myself.

‎"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." ~John Adams

I have noted the shift to more hostile confrontation versus conversation since the RMN folded. Those people seem to have brought their bad habits over to what was, to me, a more civil forum prior to that event.

I've actually changed my signature section now, attempting a use of bad poetry and some humor, to try and point out with civility to the few posters who search out and thumbs down whatever I comment upon, however innocuous it may be. It is not a large bother, but it does alter an honest look at how reasonable people are responding to my writings.

See the little poetry (below) I am using for now to point out their, to me, juvenile behavior.

Opinions are by their nature, mutable, but facts are, by their nature, immutable.

Those who give any weight or substance to an electronic thumbs down, on any WWW forum, given without comment, waste their own time.

Obviously, I've changed the signature line, as I do every few days. But, as you can see an innocuous post of mine, as the one above and this one, still draws the thumb trolls like an irresistible magnet.

Opinions are by their nature, mutable, but facts are, by their nature, immutable.

Those who give any weight or substance to an electronic thumbs down, on any WWW forum, given without comment, waste their own time.

Thanks for all the kind PM's and the thumbs up too. It's good to know I am not the only one who has an STD (Stupid Troll Detractor). Turns out there are a lot of us. Thanks to the "anonymous one" for that description by the way.

It is a necessary fact of life here on the forum, as on many others as well, that there are people who never write a rational rebuttal to a comment. They just thumbs down the post with no further input. A fact that we all need to just accept. I do.

I also appreciate the good job that our moderators do in keeping as much decorum as they do. It can't be easy keeping track of these elusive trolls. A thankless task indeed. But a sincere thank you from me.

Opinions are by their nature, mutable, but facts are, by their nature, immutable.

Those who give any weight or substance to an electronic thumbs down, on any WWW forum, given without comment, waste their own time.

A bit in advance of the anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps coming in November, the tenth day of that month. I was reminded today of one of its heroes. This is a small way of mine in remembering an American of whom we may all be justly proud. (After reading about a Occupy protester named Filipo in another net newspaper called truthout.) Some excerpts about the marine, PFC Filipo were taken from there.

A TRUE inspiration to all of us, and a REAL American Hero

"Thoughts about our freedom by a winner of Two Medals of Honor, won in two separate engagements. U.S. Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler's quote in full: "I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism."

And more words from the U.S. Marine Medals of Honor (2) winner Butler:"I wouldn't go to war again as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket."

There is a lot more to this story in the Washington archives. In a still shamefully covered up event of 1934, a group of very rich men, members of the right leaning American Legion, tried to enlist Major General Smedley Butler to lead a large group of veterans in an ill fated attempt of a coup against then President Roosevelt. Butler promptly turned all of them into a congressional committee for investigation. What a great guy.

Note that his words, taken as a whole, are firmly against Fascism (merger of corporate interests with the government) against corporations which exploit the population, and for the Bill of Rights amendments to our Constitution. Corporate Capitalism, we have seen continues to corrupt our system and rob us all into eventual ruin.

For the non-believers, From: Timeline "1933 American Legion plot to overthrow Roosevelt".

Last edited by Erudite41 on May 12th, 2012, 12:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Opinions are by their nature, mutable, but facts are, by their nature, immutable.

Those who give any weight or substance to an electronic thumbs down, on any WWW forum, given without comment, waste their own time.

Yesterday, in what has to be one of the most blatant attempts to disembowel the voting rights of minorities in Georgia and fifteen other states, the following was reported, in full.

This is simply more outrageous behavior to us minorities by a neocon group of people who audaciously call themselves Republicans, as I actually am, and expect us true supporters of the constitution to remain silent or to somehow, unbelievably, support their depredations to long held laws guaranteeing ALL U.S. citizens the right to vote.

I cannot believe any loyal American citizen would support any action that ALEC has been currently proposing in, at least, thirteen states. It is nothing less than an attempt to disenfranchise the growing "threat" they perceive, erroneously, comes from their fellow Americans of color.

Read, as follows, this current editorial from The New York Times:

"It was nearly 10 p.m. on Wednesday [May 10, 2012] when Paul Broun, a Republican congressman from Georgia, rose on the [U.S.] House floor to propose that no more money be spent enforcing a section of the Voting Rights Act of 1965."

"The act is one of the most momentous laws ever passed by Congress, removing the discriminatory barriers that had blocked generations of African-Americans [and others of color] from the polls. Yet a Southern representative tried to slip in an amendment to an appropriations bill that would prevent the Justice Department from supervising election-law changes in his state and in 15 others where there has been a history of discrimination."

"Moments later, Representative John Lewis, a Democrat of Georgia, strode to the microphone with a furious denunciation. Mr. Lewis, whose skull was fractured by a police baton in Selma, Ala., during a 1965 voting rights march, said it was “unbelievable” that a fellow Georgia lawmaker could offer such an amendment."

“It is shameful that you would come here tonight and say to the Department of Justice that you must not use one penny, one cent, one dime, one dollar to carry out the mandate of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act,” he said, his voice loud and trembling. “People died for the right to vote! Friends of mine, colleagues of mine! Speak out against this amendment — it doesn’t have a place.”

"On the floor, Mr. Broun’s explanation for getting rid of Justice Department supervision was that it had become “antiquated” and unfair. But he also said he wanted the Justice Department to back off because it has raised objections to a voter identification law in his state and several others. Those laws are the Republican Party’s modern attempt to disenfranchise minorities, the poor and older Americans for political gain."

"After being confronted by Mr. Lewis, he withdrew his amendment, condemned discrimination and apologized “for any hurt feelings anyone has.”"

The issue, however, is far bigger than "hurt feelings". Mr. Broun owes an apology to history."

Following such a perfidious and dastardly attempt to disembowel the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in the dead of night (10 PM). How can anyone, as a honorable American citizen, not agree?

Opinions are by their nature, mutable, but facts are, by their nature, immutable.

Those who give any weight or substance to an electronic thumbs down, on any WWW forum, given without comment, waste their own time.